Florida is known for its beautiful beaches, sunny weather, and high cost of living. But did you know that it also ranks as the third most expensive state for car insurance? This may come as a surprise to many residents, especially considering the number of newer vehicles you see on the road.
Many of these cars are equipped with advanced driver monitoring systems, autonomous braking systems, and even data recorders. By 2030, it’s expected that over 95% of passenger cars will have internet connectivity as a standard feature. While this may seem like a convenient advancement, it also comes with a significant downside.
Security experts warn that these connected cars can monitor your every move, leaving a possibility for car manufacturers to sell your personal driving data to insurance companies. Kevin Johnson, CEO of Secure Ideas, believes that there should be a law against this practice.
“This is absolutely the type of thing that federally, we should have some type of consumer privacy law, and we don’t,” Johnson said. Most consumers are unaware of how their data is being used or even that it’s being collected at all. Your driving data not only can affect your insurance rates but can also be sold to advertisers.
“If they know that every single day I drive by a Dunkin’ Donuts, I’m going to start seeing ads for a French cruller or something,” Johnson said. “Advertising-wise, it’s a massive piece of information.”
So, how can you protect your data from being shared without your consent? One way is to find out what information your vehicle is sharing by entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) into the Vehicle Privacy Report website at vehicleprivacyreport.com.
News4JAX entered the VIN for a 2022 Tesla Model Y and found that the privacy report labeled the car as “a smartphone on wheels.” The report revealed that Tesla shares the operator’s personal data with insurance companies, affiliates, service providers, and even the federal government. However, it’s still unclear if the driver data was being shared with data brokers.
The website also offers a service to help you opt out of data sharing, at no cost to you. Johnson advises drivers to find out what information is being shared from their vehicles and opt out of data gathering, if possible — whether the vehicle is brand new or not.
“Many of these systems allow you to reset whether you’re sharing the data. If your car has an interface where you can navigate through, go look to see if you can turn off data sharing. If it doesn’t, check the owner’s manual,” Johnson said.
In conclusion, as technology continues to advance in the automotive industry, it’s important for consumers to be aware of how their personal data is being used and take steps to protect their privacy. By staying informed and proactive, you can ensure that your driving data remains confidential and not exploited for commercial purposes.